Creating a Security Culture What It Is, Why We Need It & How to Implement It

As our direct action movement for animal
liberation grows and our movement becomes more effective, government harassment
will only increase. To minimize the destructiveness of this government
harassment, it is imperative that we create a "security culture" within our
movement.

So what is a security culture? It's a culture where the people
know their rights and, more importantly, assert them. Those who belong to a
security culture also know what behavior compromises security and they are quick
to educate and reprimand those people who, out of ignorance, forgetfulness, or
personal weakness, partake in insecure behavior. This security consciousness
becomes a "culture" when the group as a whole makes security violations socially
and morally unacceptable within the group.

This article aims to start the implementation of a security
culture within the animal liberation movement. To this end, it will spell out
exactly what behavior is inappropriate because it intensifies government
harassment, jeopardizes the freedom of other activists, and destroys the trust
within the movement. The article will also explain how to effectively deal with
those people who violate security.

What Not to Say

To begin with, there are certain things that are inappropriate
to discuss. Some of these things are as follows:

Your involvement with the A.L.F. (For simplicity's sake, we
will only refer to the A.L.F. even though this applies to all groups that
advocate illegal direct action where they plan on NOT getting caught.)

Someone else's involvement with the A.L.F.

Your or someone you know's desire to get involved with the
A.L.F.

Your or someone you know's plans for an A.L.F. action.

Asking others if they are a member of the
A.L.F.

Can you see a pattern? What all of these are stating is this:
it is wrong to speak about a specific individual's involvement (past, present
or future) with the A.L.F.

There are only two times that it is acceptable to speak about
this information. The first situation would be if you were planning an A.L.F.
action with other members of your cell (however, you would never discuss these
things over the Internet, phone line, through the mail, or in an activist's home
or car, as these places and forms of communication are frequently monitored).
And, in this situation, the only people who would hear this discussion would
include those who are actively partaking in the action. Anyone who is not
involved does not need to know and, therefore, should not know.

The second exception to the rule is with regards to A.L.F.
activists who are convicted of doing illegal direct action. Once they are found
guilty, they can freely speak of the action for which they were convicted.
However, they must never give information that would help the authorities
determine who the other cell members are or discuss other raids they were
involved in that they were not convicted for.

Those are the only two times it is appropriate to speak about
your own or someone else's involvement or intent to commit illegal direct
action. But please note that no one is claiming it is wrong to speak about
direct action. It is perfectly legal, secure, and desirable that people speak
out in support of the A.L.F. and direct action. The danger lies in linking
A.L.F. actions to the names of individual activists or groups.

A.L.F. Security Measures

Veteran A.L.F. activists only allow a select few
to know about their involvement with the A.L.F. And those few consist of the
cell members who they do the actions with AND NO ONE ELSE!

The reason for these security precautions is quite obvious: if
people don't know anything, they can't talk about it. It also means that only
the people who know the secret can also face jail time if the secret gets out.
But when activists who do not share the same serious consequences knows who did
an A.L.F. action, they are far more likely to talk after being harassed and
intimidated by the authorities, because they are not the ones who will go to
jail. And even those people who are trustworthy can often be tricked by the
authorities into revealing damaging and incriminating information. So it is
safest for A.L.F. members to keep their involvement in the A.L.F. amongst
themselves. The fewer people who know, the less evidence there is to bust
them.

Security-Violating Traits

Knowing what we now know about A.L.F. security, it is obvious to
spot those activists who compromise our movement's security.

Those people who tend to be the greatest security risks (by
speaking about the forbidden topic) are those activists who have low self-esteem
and strongly desire the approval of their peers. Certainly it is natural to seek
friendship and recognition for our efforts, but it is imperative that we keep
these selfish desires in-check so we do not jeopardize the safety of other
activists or ourselves. People who place their desire for friendship over the
importance of the cause can do serious damage to our security.

For example these people might adopt the following
security-compromising traits in an attempt to impress others:

Liars-- To impress other activists, they claim to have
done A.L.F. actions. Such lies not only compromise the person's security--as
cops will not take what is said as a lie--but also hinders movement solidarity
and trust.

Gossips-- Some weak characters think they can win friends
because they are privy to special information. These gossips will tell others
about who did what action or, if they don't know who did it, guess at who they
think did what actions or just spread rumors about who did it when they really
have no clue. This sort of talk is very damaging. People need to remember that
rumors are all that are needed to instigate a grand jury. Usually gossips are
also liars which only worsens the situation.

Braggers-- It is possible that some people who partake in
illegal direct action might brag about it to their friends in an attempt to
receive respect and admiration. If someone did such a thing, it would not only
jeopardize the bragger's security, but also that of the other people involved
with the action (as they may be suspected by association), as well as the people
who he told (they can become accessories after the fact). An activist who brags
also sets a horrible example to other activists.

Indirect-Braggers-- Indirect-braggers are people who make
a big production on how they want to remain anonymous, avoid protests, and stay
"underground." They might not come out and say that they do illegal direct
action, but they make sure everyone within ear-shot knows they are up to
something. They are no better than braggers, but they try to be more
sophisticated about it by pretending to maintain "security." However, if they
were serious about security, they would just make up a good excuse as to why
they are not as active, or why they can't make it to the protest (that kind of
lying is acceptable). But it is doubtful that these people ever really do
anything.

Educate to Liberate

So what do we do with people who exhibit these traits? Do we
excommunicate them from our movement? Actually, no--at least, not for a first
offense.

The truth is there are numerous security-ignorant people in the
movement and others who have possibly been raised in a "scene" that thrives on
bragging and gossiping. It doesn't mean these people are bad, but it does mean
they need to be educated. And that's where those of you who are reading this
article can help.

We must NEVER let a breach in security occur without acting to
correct it. If an acquaintance of yours is bragging about doing an action or
spreading security-compromising gossip, it is your responsibility to explain to
her or him why that sort of talk violates security and is inappropriate within
the animal liberation movement.

However, it is important that this person is educated in such a
way that they are willing to listen and use the information--in other words, it
should be done without damaging their pride. This means that while educating
them you must first and foremost have respect and concern for the well-being of
the individual. Do not maintain a "vegan-than-thou" attitude. Remember, the goal
of educating them is to change their behavior, not boost your ego by showing
them how much more security-conscience you are.

A "more-vegan-than-you" attitude will inevitably raise their
defenses and prevent them from absorbing or using any of the advice you offer.
Instead, you should be humble and sincerely interested in helping that person
become a better person and a more effective activist. If possible, the
educational session should also be done in private, so the person does not have
to contend with the humiliation of a public reprimand. The educational reprimand
should also be done as soon as possible after the mistake to increase its
effectiveness.

If each of us takes on the responsibility of educating those who
slip up, we can dramatically improve movement security. Once people recognize
lying, gossiping, bragging, and indirect-bragging as the damaging character-flaw
that it is, it will quickly end. And when we develop a culture where all
breaches of security result in an immediate reprimand, all sincere animal
activists will quickly get with the program.

Dealing with Chronic Security Problems

So what do we do with activists who repeatedly violate security
precautions even after multiple educational sessions? It's unfortunate, but the
best thing to do with these people is cut them loose and kick them out of the
organization. With A.L.F. activists being given decade-long sentences and
government harassment on the increase, the stakes are too high to allow chronic
repeat-security-offenders to work among direct action activists.

However, the above security culture is an effective way of
dealing with informers and agents who try to "infiltrate the A.L.F." Imagine an
informer who, every time she asked another activist if they were in the A.L.F.,
received a reprimand and an education on security. That informer would get
frustrated really easily. Furthermore, once the activists discovered she
continued to violate security precautions after being repeatedly educated, they
would have grounds for her dismissal. And that would be one less informer for us
to deal with!

Adopt a Security Culture Now

We, the militant animal liberationists, are restless. We are
adopting more and more effective tactics. The highly effective A.L.F. actions
are on the increase. Now, more than ever, we pose a serious threat to the status
quo which so happily grinds up the mutilated bodies of our animal brethren. Our
increased activity and effectiveness means that the FBI, ATF, and local police
will continue to escalate their COINTELPRO activities against us. If we want our
direct action movement to continue, it is imperative we start tightening our
security and taking ourselves more seriously. Now is the time for the animal
liberation movement to adopt a security culture. Please do what you can in your
local area to see that this is implemented.

For more information on what your rights are as an activist
read: War at Home: Covert Action against U.S. Activists and What We Can Do
About It and If an Agent Knocks: Federal Agents and Your
Rights.Both books are available from the Animal Liberation
League.